Seedream is pay-per-image with no subscription. The official BytePlus rate is about $0.03 per image, third-party providers go as low as ~$0.018, and the newer Seedream 4.5 runs closer to $0.04. That makes it one of the cheapest capable image models you can call, and roughly 4–7x cheaper than Nano Banana Pro.
The short answer
There is no monthly Seedream plan and no consumer subscription in the mold of the Gemini app. You buy credits or pay per call on whichever platform hosts the model, and you're billed per generated image. Most providers hand new accounts free starter credits, so testing costs nothing.
Because Seedream is distributed through many endpoints, the "price" depends on which provider you pick. ByteDance's own rate is the reference point; resellers compete below it.
Official pricing
Through ByteDance's BytePlus (international) and Volcengine (China) platforms, Seedream 4.0 is billed at about $0.03 per image, or roughly $30 per 1,000 generations. Output goes up to 4K (4096×4096) with custom aspect ratios, and the per-image price is flat rather than tiered by resolution on most endpoints.
| Model | Official rate | Per 1,000 images |
|---|---|---|
| Seedream 4.0 | ~$0.03 / image | ~$30 |
| Seedream 4.5 | ~$0.04 / image | ~$40 |
Third-party rates
Resellers that wrap the Seedream API routinely undercut the official rate, sometimes by 40%. These are the numbers we've seen quoted across major aggregators in 2026.
| Provider | Price / image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kie.ai | ~$0.0175 | Transparent per-image billing |
| EvoLink | ~$0.018 | ~40% under BytePlus |
| APIMart | ~$0.02 | Credit-based (0.2 credits) |
| LaoZhang | ~$0.035 | Aggregator endpoint |
| BytePlus (official) | ~$0.03 | First-party, 4K support |
Prices shift often and cheaper isn't always better — first-party endpoints tend to be more stable and better documented. Always confirm the live rate and any minimum top-up on the provider's page before you commit volume.
Seedream 4.5
ByteDance's incremental Seedream 4.5 costs a little more — about $0.04 per image — in exchange for higher fidelity and better prompt adherence. If you're generating hero images or anything customer-facing, the extra cent is usually worth it; for bulk thumbnails and variants, 4.0 keeps costs lower. Read our full Seedream review for how the two revisions differ in practice.
Vs Nano Banana & Midjourney
The value story only makes sense next to the alternatives. Nano Banana 2 is free in the Gemini app and $0.045–$0.151 on the API depending on resolution, while Nano Banana Pro is $0.134 per 2K image. Midjourney is subscription-only from $10/month with no public API.
| Model | Entry cost | API |
|---|---|---|
| Seedream 4.0 | ~$0.03 / image | Yes |
| Nano Banana 2 | Free / $0.045+ | Yes |
| Nano Banana Pro | $0.134 / 2K | Yes |
| Midjourney | $10 / mo | No |
Is it worth it?
If you generate images at volume and cost-per-image is the metric that matters, Seedream is one of the best deals on the market. A nine-image batch at two cents apiece — in seconds — is a workflow that undercuts almost everything else. For that use case, yes, it's worth it.
It's not the pick if you want a polished consumer app, flawless embedded text, or a signature artistic style. There, Nano Banana 2 and Midjourney justify their premiums. See how the numbers play out head-to-head in Seedream vs Nano Banana 2, or start from the best AI image generators roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Seedream cost per image?
The official BytePlus rate for Seedream 4.0 is about $0.03 per image. Third-party resellers run from roughly $0.018 to $0.035, and the newer Seedream 4.5 costs about $0.04 per image.
Does Seedream have a subscription?
No. Seedream is pay-per-image with no monthly plan. You pay only for the images you generate, and most providers give new accounts free starter credits to test it.
Is Seedream cheaper than Nano Banana?
Yes, substantially. At about $0.03 per image versus Nano Banana Pro's $0.134 per 2K image, Seedream is roughly 4 to 7 times cheaper for comparable output.
What's the cheapest way to use Seedream?
Third-party endpoints like Kie.ai and EvoLink quote roughly $0.018 per image, about 40% under the official rate. Weigh that against the stability and documentation of ByteDance's first-party BytePlus endpoint before moving high volume.
Is there a free Seedream tier?
There's no ongoing free plan, but most providers grant free starter credits to new accounts, which is enough to evaluate quality and speed before you pay.
What resolution do I get for the price?
Seedream outputs up to 4K (4096×4096) on most endpoints, with the per-image price generally flat rather than scaled by resolution. Best-quality results usually land at 2K.